A Whale-Surfing Fish
11 days ago
- #whale behavior
- #marine biology
- #remora fish
- Rare footage captures remora fish (sucker fish) whale-surfing on humpback whales.
- Remoras use an adhesive plate on their heads to create a vacuum seal, allowing them to cling to whales.
- Scientists observed remoras peeling away from whales just before breaching and returning moments later.
- Remoras feed on dead skin and sea lice from whales, in a seemingly mutualistic relationship.
- Humpback whales may find remoras annoying, as evidenced by repeated breaching to dislodge them.
- Remoras can ride whales for long distances, but their full migratory habits remain unknown.
- In the absence of whales, remoras latch onto other large marine animals, including manta rays and dolphins.